Wilhelm haubnee



(No Model.)

- W. HAUBNER.

Piano Forte Damper Attachment.

No. 241,980. Patent ed May 24,1881.

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UNITED STATES ILHELM HAUBNFI-t,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF NElV YORIL N. Y.

PIANO-FORTE DAMPER ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,980, dated May 24-, 1881.

(N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WrLHnLn HAUBNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Piano-Forte Attachments, of which the lollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to piano-forte attachments for retaining one or more of the dampers out of contact with the strings after the key or keys have returned to their normal positions, thus allowing the continuance of the sound and it consists in the combination, with damper-rods, each having a laterally-pro jeoting tongue, of a movable seat which is located opposite the dam per-rods an d carries elastic swinging stops, one to each damper, so that if, when either of the dampers is lifted, with its rod, the seat is moved up to the damperrods, the appropriate stop catches under the tongue of the lifted rod and arrests the same, while the remaining rods are free to perform their motions, the stops being merely displaced thereby. The stops are preferably made in the form of blocks of india-rubber which are partially split or divided, and one part of which is fixed to the seat, while the other part projects beyond the edge thereof, so as to swing or play on the fixed part.

This iHVBDtlOll is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows its arrangement in a piano-forte. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the attachment. Fig. 3 shows one of the stops in an upper position and on a larger scale than in the previous figures.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The letter A designates the damper-rods; 1), their tongues; (l, the movable seat, and at its stops.

The rods A are the parts connecting the damper-levers E with the dampers F, and the tongues 1) project therefrom, respectively, in a lateral direction, the whole series having one and the same position.

The movable seat 0 is arranged opposite to the damper-rods A, and it is guided to and from the same through by means of slots 9 in the sides of the frame. The movement of the seat 0 is produced by means of a pedal connected thereto at one or both ends; but inasmuch as this connection can be readily made by one skilled in the art an illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary.

The normal position of the stops (1 is a substantially horizontal plane, and they are susceptible of being swung upward from that position, but not downward, while they are elastic, thus having a tendency to return to a normal position. The blocks of india-rubber composing the stops (Z are partially splitnamely, trom the lower edge to within a short distance 01' the other or upper edge, so that the two parts or divisions of the blocks are left connected at the upper edge. One part of the blocks thus divided is fixed to the seat 0 as by means of an adhesive substance at the edge thereof which is nearest to the damperrods A, so that the other part overhangs such edge, thus projecting from the seat.

When either of the dampers F is lifted, together with its rod A, the seat 0 is moved up to the rods a sutlicient distance to bring the ap' propriate stops (1 beneath the tongue b of the lii'ted rod, as shown in Fig. 1. In this manner the lifted rod is arrested and its damper is re tained out of contact with the string to which it belongs, while at the same time the remaining damper-rods are free to rise and fall, the corresponding stops being above their tongues and being merely displaced thereby.

By making the stops (1 of india-rubber the cost thereof is reduced to a minimum, and they are least liable to aii'ect the tone of the instrument; but it is obvious that other construe tions thereof may be devised.

It may be remarked that my invention is applicable to either a grand, square, or upright piano-forte.

I am aware of the Patent Reissue No. 8,319, and I disclaim everything shown and described in such patent.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is--= 1. In a piano-forte attachment, the combination ot'a series of movable or sliding damperrods, each provided with a lateral projecting tongue, with a series of elastic stops attached to a seat which is capable of movement toward and from the damper-rods, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The seat 0, carrying stops consisting of blocks of indie-rubber which are partially split, my hand and seal in the presence of two suband one part of which is fixed to the seat, 1eavscribing witnesses. in the other )art arojeet therefrom, in 00111- T a bil latiOll with the damper-rods A, each having WILHELM HAUBLLI 5 a laterally-projecting tongue, substantially as \Vitnesses:

and for the purpose described. W. HAUFF,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set CHASWVAHLERS. 

